Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-11-03
CLEANING SILVER.
Valuable Suggestions on . Matter That
Puzzles Many Houseko.pers.

Puzzles Many Houseko.pers.
Every housekeeper has her own way
of doing her Homework. and the
cleaning of silver is no exception to
the rule. Some part of day every
week or every two weeks is set aside
for this work. and no matter what may
happen this is seldom neglected. All
that in everyday use. and usually
that which is used very little only on
certain occasions, is taken out and
given a thorough cleaning. If proper
attention were given to the everyday
care of silver, there would be no ne
cessity of securing it every week or
even every two weeks 1t does not inn
prove silver in the end to clean it too
often. If it is solid metal and you
should like to pass it off as family
heirloom. by all means scour it as often
as you can and wash it in soap suds,
and in a short while, if it is Of an
tique pattern. any one will readily be-
lieve that it belonged to your great
grandmother. and excuse its appear
ance by remarking: "They used a
great deal of pewter in those days.
If it is plated, which is generally the
kind most in use nowadays, the plate
will wear off soon enough without any
help from you in securing.
Do not use the same towels you wipe
your dishes with for the silver. The
coarse crash, though very nice Tor
crockery, is not fit for silver or glass
ware. The checkered toweling which
comes especially for this work. and
can be bought at any dry-goods store.
is just the thing, and a half-dozen OF
these towels, at least, should be in
every house. After each meal gather
all the silver together, have ready
pan of hot water. in which put little
borax or a few drops of ammonia; into
this put all the small silver and let it
stand until you have all the things
cleared away and are ready to wash
the dishes. While going back and
forth give the pan shaking, now and
then, so as to separate the silver and
allow the water to get to every part OF
it. BY the time the table is cleared the
water will be cool enough to allow the
removal of the silver without barboiling
the hands. Take out of the water and
wipe it thoroughly dry. In the case of
egg, acid fruit or vinegar stains it may
be necessary to give stained articles a
slight rubbing. but unless the stains
are very deep the borax or
ammonia will do the work
of securing and no rubbing
is required. Silver treated in this
way will not need to be cleaned more
than once month, and that it shall be
cleaned us often as this will be at the
option of the housekeeper. l have
known silver that had been cared for
as above to go for one year without Il
thorough cleaning, and then look
brighter and nicer than that which had
been cleaned every two weeks. When
silver ice-water services and tea-set,
are in constant use, each piece should
be thoroughly washed once a week in
hot boraX or ammonia water, which
will keep them brighter and nicer
than frequent scourings would ever do.
To be sure, the cream pitcher will have
to have daily washing the same as
the small silver. When there is no
ammonia or borax at hand use clear
hot water. Never on any account use
soap in the water unless you want
your silver to lose its luster and look
like pewter. In using the ammonia
Tablespoonful to a large pan of
water is plenty for large quantity of
silver, and usually quarter Of tea
spoonful is sufficient. 1t is with
ammonia as with many other things, Il
little of it does great deal of good,
but great deal of it may do more
harm than good.
For the general cleaning use
ammonia and whiting. This can be
bought already mixed, or may be pre-
pared at home by mixing in dish
ammonia and whiting to the consist
ency of cream. Make only little at
time, rs it dries very quickly. Have
a large and small piece of flannel. a
piece of channels and two toothbrush
es. With the small piece of flannel APP
ply the mixture to the articles to be
clear 9 !, rubbing but very slightly, as
the mixture does the work with only
slight assistance. Use one toothbrush
for applying the mixture between tie
prongs of the forks and into all rough
and chased work, and the other brush
to remove it when dry. As each ar
ticle is cleaned lay it aside without
wiping until all are done. Commence
with the first article cleaned and wipe
thoroughly with the large piece of fan
mel. using the dry toothbrush for all
chased work and crevices. When all
are wiped well go over them again
with the piece of channels for a final
polish.
Silver not in general use can be
cleaned in this way, wrapped